Eira Ekenberg-Jones, Rhondda Cynon Taff Socialist Party
The rise in fuel prices due to the war in Iran isn’t news to anyone – many working people are now fearing how they’ll afford transport and heating as we enter a new period of capitalist instability and conflict. Pro-capitalist political leaders are scrambling to find ‘solutions’ that will allow the super-rich to keep their economic power and profits intact – including increasing oil drilling and coal mining.
With the increasing fuel costs (and resulting corporate profits), driving will become increasingly unaffordable for many people. However, the cost of public transport isn’t much cheaper! The UK has the most expensive public transport system in all of Europe – with London being the most expensive on Earth as of March 2026. I myself spend nearly £130 on public transport travelling to work every month.
Following mass protests, the Pakistan government has announced that public transport will be free for a month. Lithuania has also taken a different approach to this crisis, announcing a halving of domestic train tickets for the next two months. This move aims to ease the financial strain on households, while encouraging a shift to public transport.
Free public transport here would be a welcome move, but implemented as an emergency measure would not be enough. The Socialist Party calls for a fully nationalised public transport sector with democratic planning, owned and controlled by the working class. This system would allow for consistent and fair working conditions and pay, rebuilding infrastructure like rail lines, stations, and ticket offices, and bringing back hundreds of ‘unprofitable’ routes, to make our public transport system greener and fit for purpose. Our current system with private companies competing with each other for contracts isn’t working for anyone but the rich!
Public transport should be free on every route and for every person, not just during an emergency. Without money being wasted on competing, advertising, or profits, we could run a socialist public transport system, as part of a wider democratically planned economy, that meets the needs of everyone.
